Faulty electrical work is one of the leading causes of residential fires. It can also lead to expensive repair costs.
Licensed Electrician follows national and local codes to ensure that all wiring, circuits, outlets, and fixtures are safe. When you hire an unlicensed electrician, it can be a costly mistake.
Lack of Experience
It takes years of training and experience to earn a license in the electrical industry, and there is a reason they require it. If someone doesn’t have a license, it’s because they haven’t been properly trained or don’t have the skills to do quality work.
It’s also not worth the risk to hire an unlicensed electrician. If they perform shoddy work and there is a problem, you could be held responsible and have to pay for the repairs. Homeowners insurance often doesn’t cover these types of repairs either.
Electrical projects can be very complicated, and even small tasks can reveal bigger problems that need to be addressed. An unlicensed electrician will be unlikely to notice these issues, and it isn’t worth the risk. A licensed electrician will be able to identify potential hazards and repair them before they become serious problems.
One of the biggest issues with using an unlicensed electrician is that it can be dangerous for you and your family. Many unlicensed electricians don’t have the experience or skill to handle complex jobs, and they can put your property at risk of damage or fire.
In addition, if an unlicensed electrician performs shoddy work, it may not be up to code and can result in fines or even a home insurance claim denial. A reputable electrician will always have the proper credentials and insurance in place.
When looking for an electrician, ask friends and neighbors who they have used in the past and get references. Then, use the California Electrician License Verification tool to check for a license before hiring anyone.
It is easy to be lured in by the low prices offered by unlicensed electricians, but it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. If you choose to go with an unlicensed electrician, you’re likely to end up paying much more in the long run in terms of safety, liability, and property value. The cost of hiring a qualified, licensed electrician is well worth it in the long run. Especially considering that it’s illegal to work without a license.
Poor Workmanship
Many unlicensed electricians will cut corners to save time and money. This can result in substandard work that could lead to future problems and safety risks for you and your family.
If you notice sloppy work, it is best to call a licensed electrician to assess the problem and make any necessary repairs. This will prevent bigger issues from developing down the line and ensure that your electrical system is safe and efficient.
Faulty electrical work can also cause fires, which are hard to extinguish and can destroy your home. Several warning signs of an impending electrical fire include burning smells (overheating plastic components), a buzzing sound or arcing sparks (active arcing), or warm or hot outlets and switches (signs of high resistance connections). Most electrical fires start in hidden, insulated spaces like walls and attics, where they can burn for hours before smoke alarms activate.
Some electrical jobs require permits, which ensure that the project is done correctly and up to code. Licensed electricians routinely obtain these permits for their clients, submitting the required documentation, paying fees, and scheduling inspections. Unlicensed individuals may skip these steps, which leaves you vulnerable to fines and legal issues if any damage occurs due to the unpermitted work.
Licensed electricians are trained to safely work with live electricity, including the lines coming in from your utility company. Unlicensed workers may not understand how to properly shut off and isolate the power to your circuits, which can lead to serious injuries or fires if you accidentally touch an exposed live conductor. If you have a breaker that keeps tripping, don’t simply reset it — it can be a sign of a dangerous underlying issue such as old, worn, or damaged wiring.
Choosing a reputable, licensed electrician will cost you more upfront than an unlicensed individual. However, the long-term costs of unsafe and ineffective work far outweigh any perceived savings. In addition to potential injury and property damage, poor workmanship by an unlicensed electrician could void your homeowners’ insurance policy and result in costly repairs down the road.
Poor Customer Service
It takes hard work and dedication to become a licensed electrician. It also takes the right mix of education and experience to be able to assess your electrical needs, design a solution and execute it using quality parts and industry best practices. Licensed electricians care about their reputation and work to get it right the first time, saving you from costly mistakes down the road. Unlicensed electricians, on the other hand, are much more likely to cut corners and do shoddy work. They may quote you half as much as a real deal company because they aren’t pulling permits, don’t have general liability and workers compensation insurance or both, or because they simply lack the necessary education and experience to do a quality job.
A licensed professional is also accountable to their licensing board, so they are more likely to follow through on their promises and commitments to you. This is especially important for complex projects like electrical panel repair, where the potential risks are more extreme.
If your breaker trip once, that’s okay — it happens when the circuit detects an overload or fault and shuts off the power. But if it keeps tripping, that’s not normal and should be evaluated immediately by a licensed electrician. Repeated tripping is often caused by older wiring that was adequate in the 1970s but can’t handle today’s electrical loads. Flickering lights and warm outlets are other common warning signs.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you’re noticing any of the 12 warning signs listed above, call a licensed electrician right away. They’ll be able to address the problem before it worsens. It could save you money, hassle and a potentially dangerous fire. Plus, it will ensure that your home is safe and up to code for the long haul. And that’s worth far more than any shortcut or bargain basement price you might have saved. The last thing you want is to pay for an unlicensed “electrician’s” mistakes with a repair bill that costs you hundreds of dollars and possibly your life.
No Insurance
Electrical work is strictly regulated at the national, state, and local level, with requirements for everything from wiring to outlets and fixtures. Licensed electricians are intimately familiar with these standards and can guarantee your work is up to code. Handymen who perform electrical work without a license may not be familiar with these codes, and their mistakes could have devastating consequences for you and your home. If your project is done incorrectly and causes a fire, your homeowners insurance may not cover the damages, leaving you to pay for costly repairs out of pocket.
Whether you’re adding an outlet or replacing a fuse, your home’s electrical system should be tested monthly. GFCIs (outlets with “test” and “reset” buttons) should be tested especially regularly, as they’re one of the most common causes of home electrical fires. If a GFCI fails to reset after pressing the test button, it should be replaced by a professional. Failing to replace a failing GFCI can lead to electrocution, which is far more dangerous than an electrical fire.
Improper electrical work can lead to additional problems, and even if there isn’t an immediate fire risk, your insurer might not cover the damage. If your wiring isn’t properly grounded, fuses are too large for the circuits, or inferior materials are used, issues are bound to crop up in the future that require more extensive and expensive work to correct.
Another concern is that if you have unlicensed or DIY electrical work in your house, it’s likely that when it comes time to sell, the new buyers will have their inspector find out and force you to disclose the unpermitted work. This can have a negative impact on your home’s value and require you to pay a licensed electrician to correct the work at the worst possible time in a transaction.
There’s a balance between trusting your family’s safety to an unlicensed individual and taking advantage of the many scammers who prey on unsuspecting homeowners. Ask for references and credentials from friends and neighbors, and be sure to check your local licensing board website to verify the legitimacy of your electrician’s license.